"We don't like the sun," said Hemme, a Clinton Township resident, who along with boyfriend Dan Johnson and his four children all dressed as vampires during their trick-or-treating outing at the village on Bray Road.

Hemme and Nicole Johnson, 10, came up with the idea to dress alike after visiting the Genesee Township location in 2010.

"We thought we'd go big this year," laughed Hemme. "Maybe next year we'll be a group of zombies."

Garry Pringle, Crossroads Village manager, said an estimated 40,000 visitors are expected during the 17-day Halloween season at the village.

"It's basically a community even, it's safe, it's friendly," he said. "The kids, mom, dad and grandparents can all take part."

Dan Johnson, who held his son 3-year-old Dylan Johnson, while 5-year-old Logan Johnson and 15-year-old Caitlyn Johnson sat close by sipping cider, said the event gives his family a chance to share the fun together.

"Anytime we get to spent together, because I work a lot, is a good time," he said, while adding "It's not just for the kids. We get to enjoy ourselves.

The process of finding the outfits and fake blood streaming down the side of their painted, pale faces was also fun, said Hemme.

"We got to enjoy everything, from finding the blood and picking out the costumes," she said.

Costumes around the village ranged from vampires, to Scooby Doo, fairies and Harry Potter.

Sawyer Black, a 1-year-old Chesaning boy, was decked out in a Charlie Brown outfit, complete with a yellow shirt, Snoopy stuffed animal looped around his waist and pieces of apple and candy in his mouth.

"We bought that shirt and just put the other pieces together. We're all Snoopy fans. I grew up with it," said Sawyer's mother Valerie Black, who was joined by husband Duane Black and the couple's other children, 10-year-old Sydney Black dressed as an inmate and 7-year-old Spencer Black whose face was covered with a ghost mask from the movie 'Scream.'

Concepcion McAskill has also made the event and Halloween a family event for her children.

"This is like our Christmas," she said. "We have lights up and decorations at home too."

The Merrill mother, dressed as a 'modern witch' in a black coat, boats and shirt, said the tradition now passed on to her son 4-year-old Brian Joseph McAskill and 16-year-old Alexandra McAskill, came from her mother Theresa Castillo.

"She's the one that got started," said Concepcion. "She would have haunted music blaring while driving up around trick-or-treating."

Dressed up as a zombie complete with a gaping arm wound and fake blood covering her shirt, Alexandra has fully immersed herself in the Halloween spirit, even creating her own characters such as an evil doll named Manita in recent years.

"It was bloody and broken, she had broken surfaces on her face," Concepcion said. "It looked really neat. It's just fun for them to do."

The Crossroads Halloween event continues until the end of the month. For more information, visit their website or call Genesee County Parks at 1-800-648-PARK.